[landfill]

i use the 3031 for .223 as well, it shoots really well. my rifle is almost never near as dirty as with other factory rounds, or surplus. i like the load. i use 24 grains over a 55gr fmj bullet. my only gripe is that i am only getting around 2800fps out of the round, which i am unhappy with. i have bought 3 of the 8lb jugs, so i am stuck until i run out but its a clean powder thats for sure. i have not had a single issue that was not due to outside factor(brass catcher not letting the brass in all the way, case that i missed sizing wont fit in chamber, etc) i am probably going to try a few other powders to see if i can get passed the 3000fps mark.

suggestions are welcomed.

 

[point92]

I just loaded up 40 rounds today and tested them at the range

RRA CAR-15:
16" barrel 1-9" twist.

55Gr FMJ
25.0 gr H335
Rem Brass
CCI 400 primer

20 rounds, all cycled fine, no failures
Chrono Data:
Hi - 2904 fps
Low- 2818 fps
Ave - 2861 fps

20 rounds, all cycled fine, no failures
55Gr FMJ
25.5 gr H335
Rem Brass
CCI 400 primer
Chrono data:
Hi-3003
Low-2904
Ave-2930

XM193 is spec'd at 3165 +/- 40fps (20" barrel at 78' from muzzle)
Accuracy 3-10 round groups not to exceed 2.00" mean radius max at 200yds.

That is 235 fps slower than the 25.5 grains.
Taking into account the 16" vs 20" barrel at ~ 17fps per inch - 68fps

There were no signs of over pressure on the cases afterwards so I might try stepping it up to 26.0gr of H335 for my next trip.

 

[point92]

I loaded up a few more rounds to verify the data from last time.


RRA CAR-15:
16" barrel 1-9" twist.
Iron sights
This rifle was different one that had over a 1000 rounds put through it as opposed to the other one that had less than 100 rounds.

I tried 3 different loads this time.

55Gr FMJ
24.5 gr AA2230
Federal brass
CCI 400 primer

10 rounds, all cycled fine, no failures
all 10 rounds grouped in the 1.25" range at 50 yards
Chrono Data:
Hi - 2892 fps
Low- 2855 fps
Ave - 2875 fps

10 rounds, all cycled fine, no failures
Grouping was a all inside 2" at 50 yards
55Gr FMJ
25.0 gr AA2230
Federal Brass
CCI 400 primer
Chrono data:
Hi-2949
Low-2892
Ave-2926

10 rounds , all cycled fine, no failures
duplicated this load from first time out
grouping was within a 2" pattern at 50 yrds
55 gr FMJ
25.0 gr H335
Federal Brass
CCI 400 Primer
Chrono Data:
Hi-2943
low-2855
ave-2910

The AA2230 with 24.5 grains seemed to be the tightest shooting rounds. What is interesting is the increase in velocity with the H335 25.0 grains over the last time out.

 

[rkwrichard]

Just as a footnote. IMR 3031 also works very well in your 243, 7mm-08, 308 and your 45-70. It will not go to waste.

 

[5.56 SS109]

So what kind of velocities are people getting with the 55gr Hornady SP over 23.7gr of Benchmark?

Any info on their velocity out of a 16" barrel would be awesome, but any and all data is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[natdscott]

So what kind of velocities are people getting with the 55gr Hornady SP over 23.7gr of Benchmark?

Any info on their velocity out of a 16" barrel would be awesome, but any and all data is appreciated.

Thanks

That's a fairy light charge of Benchmark, isn't it? Dependant on brass, of course. To be clear, I'm not advocating you push your loads if that's where the gun says "Stop," but that does seem pretty low.

I think you should be running 2,750 to 2,775 fps with that charge in a 16" barrel.

-Nate

 

[5.56 SS109]

That's a fairy light charge of Benchmark, isn't it? Dependant on brass, of course. To be clear, I'm not advocating you push your loads if that's where the gun says "Stop," but that does seem pretty low.

I think you should be running 2,750 to 2,775 fps with that charge in a 16" barrel.

-Nate

From my research it appears to be on the lighter end.

I was asking mainly because it is the load outlined by "madgunsmith" in his thread about loading .223 Rem.

Thank you for the information.

 

[madgunsmith]

That is with military brass. With commercial brass, I use 24.5 grains of Benchmark.

24.5 grain of Benchmark would be way too hot for thicker military brass.

 

[Hylander]

That is with military brass. With commercial brass, I use 24.5 grains of Benchmark.

24.5 grain of Benchmark would be way too hot for thicker military brass.

Actually .556 brass is no thicker the commercial .223
Lupa .223 is the thickest I beleive.
I just checked my Win. .223 brass against my 09 LC brass and the LC has more capacity, .2 gr.

 

[Aks74n]

In my experience military ammo is quite a bit hotter than pretty much any .223 load I've come across.

I had some surplus M855 (62 grain bullet with the green tip, steel penetrator) chrono over 3100 FPS out of my 16" AR.

If you look on Ramshot's recipe page they have loads for both .223 pressure and 5.56 pressure which is considerably higher.

 

[nfhjr63]

Have built my AR15 With a DPMS upper with a 24 inch 1/8 twist ss barrel so what would be a good loading for 77 SMK in LC unfired brass have IMR 3031 and Varget best to use

 

[Herk]

Hey Fluffy, that was a great breakdown of why burn rate is so important. I'm about to take possession of a Fulton Armory FAR-308 rifle. Do you know what burn rate bracket I should look into for maximum reliability with this system? Thanks!

 

[Herk]

Herk, you rolling your own? I'd personally stick with FGMM or a clone and then tailor it to your rifle.

I haven't even taken possession of the rifle yet but when I do I plan on putting some hand loads together for it. I would probably clone the FGMM but I don't know what powder they use. Do you know where I could look that up? As long as I'm going to have an autoloader it might as well function as one; if I wanted a bolt-action I would have bought one!

 

[marshallr45]

I liked your post on using IMR-3031 with the Ar-15. I've worked up 2000 rounds of brass and I've been testing various loads using 55 grain Sierra FMJBT bullets . I also happen to have 8 lbs of 3031 on hand.

This weekend I tested some loads at 24.1 grains and 24.6 grains. The 24.6 load is listed as max in several loading books. I shot these in a Kimber Model 21 bolt gun(a one holer) and a Ar-15 with a 16" heavy match grade barrel. I was not happy with the results. 24.1 grains worse.

I've seen some posts on various suggesting 20-22 grains of 3031 but Sierra lists the min. at 23.1grains.

It sounds like you have some experience with this powder. Do you have a pet load?

 

[marshallr45]

Thanks for the reply avolcek! I've been reading these posts for a couple of months. There seems to be some knowledgable discussions.

My goal was to find a 3031 load at or around 3000fps + trying to duplicate the original loading that I have read was 3300 fps. Don't know if this is exact or not, but I've seen it quoted in several places. As for the reloading books, you are correct that they are a study. Hornady list 20.5-22.8 grains max at 3100fps. Sierra has 23.1 - 24.6 grains max at 3000 fps, Speer 24 - 26 grains max listed at 3223 fps, and Hodgdon list 21.6 @2907 and 24.6 @ 3233 fps. I did not chrono my loads but the firing pin indention was much more pronounced at 24.6 than even 24.1 grains. I definitely think 24.6 grains would be max and I don't think you could fit 25 grain in the case to boot. I will start at the lower end and work up to see how they group.

This gun will shoot 68 grain Hornady BTHP match loaded with 19.5 grains of H4198 with 3 rounds touching at 100 yards.

FYI a great prairie dog load is 40 grain VMAx or Ballistic Tip with 23 grains of IMR4198 Winchester Military cases. Five shots touching out of a Winchester Heavy Varmit. The "trick" with this bullet is to seat it out to COL of 2.255" not the book depth of 2.200" My Dad worked this load out. We've shot it in 5 or 6 rifles plus 3 different AR's. Extremely accurate in all.

 

[billt]

I just finished loading up these 2,500, .223 / 5.56 MM cases for my AR-15's. My load was 25.7 grains of Hodgdon H-335 under a Lake City 55 Gr. FMJBT bullet. I picked up 5,000 of these bullets from Wideners. They are some of the best, most consistent FMJ .223 bullets I've ever seen. Much better than the last batch of Winchester 55 Gr. FMJ's I received from Midway. The cannelure on those were all over the place. These are right on the money on every bullet.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm? ... |1081|1141

$390.00 for 5,000 comes to only $7.80 a hundred. Not bad for good, quality bullets for general shooting. I like H-335 because it flows through a powder measure like water, and it is also very clean burning. When you load on a progressive like a Dillon or a Hornady Lock-N-Load, how well your measure cycles is very important. Ball powders really come into there own here, because of how well and accurate they meter through a measure.

I'm having really good accuracy with this load, and will be buying more of these bullets. Bill T.

 

[irfee]

Sad to say I don't think I will be wearing out a barrel any time soon...Although I wish I could.generic cialis India

 

[Stormrider]

A load that I've found that shoots well in the three carbines I've shot it in is: 52g SMK, 25.3g of Alliant AR Comp and any primer in LC brass. It's run ~3200 f/s out of the 16" barrels, grouped in 1/2 to 3/4 moa and showed no pressure signs with ES being as high as 75 and as low as 54, depending on primer used. All were 10 round groups. Other bullets that shot as well were, Hornady 75g BTHP, 53g AMax, 52g VMax, and 77g SMK.

 

[Rhyno430]

Im headed to Cabelas tomorrow to get some stuff to start loading for my ar.

I have a dpms oracle anything I need to do to it? I plan on useing benchmark, and probably lighter bullets in the 50,to 65,grn.

Anything I need to do to my ar?

I am no ar expert like fluffy and other so im looking for insight.

 

[Stormrider]

Just go shoot it and see how you like it. Give it a chance and get to know it first. There is always time to change something on it if you decide you don't like the way it is now.